local excel = require("excel_library") -- Assuming you have a library for handling Excel files

function excel_sort(file_path, column_index)
    -- Load Excel file
    local workbook = excel.load(file_path)
    
    -- Extract data from specified column
    local column_data = {}
    for row = 1, workbook:getRowCount() do
        local cell_value = workbook:readCell(row, column_index)
        table.insert(column_data, { value = cell_value, row = row })
    end

    -- Sort data based on the specified column in descending order
    table.sort(column_data, function(a, b)
        -- Handle mixed data types
        if type(a.value) ~= type(b.value) then
            return type(a.value) > type(b.value)
        end
        -- If data types are the same, compare values
        return a.value > b.value
    end)

    -- Create temporary file path
    local temp_file_path = os.tmpname() .. ".xlsx"

    -- Create a new workbook for the sorted data
    local sorted_workbook = excel.createWorkbook()
    local sheet = sorted_workbook:addSheet("Sorted Data")

    -- Write sorted data to the new workbook
    for i, data in ipairs(column_data) do
        local row_index = i
        local original_row_index = data.row
        for col = 1, workbook:getColumnCount() do
            local cell_value = workbook:readCell(original_row_index, col)
            sorted_workbook:writeCell(sheet, row_index, col, cell_value)
        end
    end

    -- Save the sorted workbook to the temporary file
    sorted_workbook:saveAs(temp_file_path)

    return temp_file_path
end